Introducing: The MP4-29

For Formula One fans, car launches are like Christmas all over again, although this year’s launches are a complete contrast to the previous set, with only three teams having an official launch before the first test in Jerez (28-31 January).

Force India released a side shot of their challenger with a brand new livery but the aspect that everyone was looking forward too was hidden. Then Williams dropped the bomb with a computer generated release, and I dare say every F1 fan understood the horrors ahead of them.

Today, McLaren unveiled their new car online. Gone are the days of big flashy ceremonies, without sponsor Vodafone to pay for them now, a low key slide show and 360 degree model was put up on the McLaren website.

I’ll get to the nose at the end, first of all; I love the colour scheme. I’ve never been a big fan of all the red McLaren used to have, last year I called for them to bring out a plainer car and it was worth the wait.

It definitely reminds you of the days where Mika Hakkinen and more recently Kimi Raikkonen drove an all silver car. The McLaren logo is still present on top of the side pods and I still think that’s a really important feature.

The MP4-29 has familiar feautres such as a pull rod suspension scheme and McLaren designed steering and electronic equipment. By now we’re all aware of the regulation changes and McLaren are running the Mercedes-Benz PU106A Hybrid, 6 cylinder 1.6 litre engine. The car comes to a total of 145kg and runs the brand new ERS (Electronic Revcovery System) boost, although hopefully someone comes up with  fancy new name for it. A full list of specifications can be found on the McLaren website.

Now for the elephant in the room. Two years ago when the stepped nose system came in, McLaren were the only team not to feature the awful nose and we all loved them for it. Last year they did but it came complete with a vanity panel. For 2014, I guess the geniuses at the McLaren Technology Centre could find no way around the new regulations and instead, they left us with this:

I know it’s not their fault, but look at it. Seriously. I genuinely think it needs a great big censor bar over it. No way should it be shown before the watershed. The back wing remains quite narrow but they’ve shortened the width of the front wing. Before, it used to exceed the width of the chassis and tyres but in the pictures it’s short of the Pirelli tyres.

Me personally, I like the car. I think we’re all going to have to get over the noses, there’s no chance of a vanity cover up, and the regulations aren’t going to change soon. McLaren took a bold step by being the first team to have an official launch with multiple angles of their car, and I love the silver and black livery, it compliments each other so very well. Hopefully it can improve dramatically upon 2013’s form, and emulate the successes of 2012 with less reliability issues, although with a brand new power train that may be asking too much.

Also, I think it's a testament to how strong Jenson Button is, showing up just after burying his father. Good luck this season Jenson!